The Longest Time (arr. Tom Gentry): SATB Choral Octavo
The Longest Time (arr. Tom Gentry) Sheet Music Preview

The Longest Time (arr. Tom Gentry): SATB Choral Octavo

As performed by Billy Joel / Arranged by Tom Gentry

Item: 35-DS00451697
Digital Download
$3.20
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 5
SKU: 35-DS00451697

More about this title

About the Artist: Billy Joel

Billy Joel is one of the most successful songwriters and performers in American popular music, with a career spanning five decades. His compositions blend classical training with pop sensibility, creating melodies that are both immediately accessible and surprisingly sophisticated. "The Longest Time" exemplifies his gift for memorable hooks and harmonic depth, making his work especially rewarding for choral arrangers and singers.

Why we love this

Tom Gentry has captured the infectious energy and tight harmonic structure that made the original a hit, while adapting it perfectly for four-part voices. The barbershop sensibility here rewards crisp articulation and careful blend, and the piece sits at just the right accessibility level for strong high school choirs or community groups. Directors get a contemporary tune that audiences genuinely enjoy hearing, paired with writing that teaches real harmonic precision.

What to expect

Warm, nostalgic, and surprisingly romantic. The barbershop voicing creates a rich harmonic palette that feels both vintage and timeless. This is a piece where singers can feel the satisfaction of making something genuinely beautiful together, not just executing notes.

Who it's for

High school and community choirs looking for contemporary repertoire with real musical substance. Directors seeking a piece that generates genuine audience enthusiasm while building harmonic awareness and part independence.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the forward momentum steady; this arrangement thrives on bounce and rhythmic clarity rather than dragging through the phrasing.
  • Balance the bass line carefully so the harmonic movement reads clearly without overpowering the melody.
  • Lock the syllabic passages together with precise rhythmic unity, especially in sections where all four parts move together.
  • Lean into the barbershop characteristics by ensuring smooth voice leading and resonant vowel colors across the chord changes.

How to use it

Perfect for pops concerts, holiday shows, or spring programs where you want to include a recognizable song that still has musical credibility. The five pages make it manageable for groups working with limited rehearsal time, and it pairs well alongside either lighter novelty numbers or more serious art songs as a palate cleanser.

Skills your students will build

  • Voice leading through barbershop-style harmonic progressions
  • Balancing independent melodic lines while maintaining homophonic blend
  • Stylistic articulation in contemporary pop arrangements
  • Tuning complex tertian chords with attention to harmonic purity

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